SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Orioles and Matt Wieters could be heading toward a dispute on whether he should be on the Opening Day roster even if he is not ready to play at catcher.

Wieters underwent Tommy John surgery last June 17. He caught in his first game Tuesday (nine months to the day since his operation), but experienced soreness. The pain was considered normal, but the decision was made he would not catch again for at least a week.

So whether he will be able to catch when the season begins is now in even greater doubt.

Baltimore general manager Dan Duquette, speaking by phone, did not definitively say the switch-hitter would not be on the roster, but he hinted at it by explaining: “All 25 of the roster spots are vital. You are trying to put your strongest team out every day. And our team is a lot better when [Wieters] is catching.”

When told that sounds as if Wieters is going to open on the DL if he can’t catch, Duquette said: “Let’s see how this [his throwing program] develops. I am not sure of the timetable [if there is enough time].”

Wieters’ representative, Scott Boras, said he is not concerned about the tendinitis, and the key is if Wieters gets his hitting down before his throwing. Boras said Wieters should be on the roster even if he cannot catch from Day 1.

“I think Matt Wieters is a great hitter,” Boras said. “He is a switch-hitter with 20-homer power. He has to be on the roster hitting for his team.”

Wieters has done poorly at the plate this spring, going hitless in 23 at-bats. This is a key year for Wieters, who is set to become a free agent next offseason.